Social Media Monitoring policies (Department of Homeland Security)
| Tracking # |
2017-HQFO-00430, 2017-HQAP-00194 |
| Submitted | Feb. 21, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Michael Best
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Electronic copies of your Agency's social media monitoring policies, including but not limited to Privacy Impact Assessments.
I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities for AND Magazine, MuckRock and Glomar Disclosure and have an open arrangement with each. My articles have been widely read, with some reaching over 100,000 readers. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through the non-profit Internet Archive, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance. Additionally, case law states that “proof of the ability to disseminate the released information to a broad cross-section of the public is not required.” Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Dep’t of Justice, 365 F.3d 1108, 1126 (D.C. Cir. 2004); see Carney v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 19 F.3d 807, 814-15 (2d Cir. 1994). Further, courts have held that "qualified because it also had “firm” plans to “publish a number of . . . ‘document sets’” concerning United States foreign and national security policy." Under this criteria, as well, I qualify as a member of the news media. Additionally, courts have held that the news media status "focuses on the nature of the requester, not its request. The provision requires that the request be “made by” a representative of the news media. Id. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). A newspaper reporter, for example, is a representative of the news media regardless of how much interest there is in the story for which he or she is requesting information." As such, the details of the request itself are moot for the purposes of determining the appropriate fee category. As such, my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available and I therefore request that fees be waived.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Michael Best
From: US DHS Privacy Office
Good Afternoon,
Attached is our acknowledgment of your DHS FOIA request. If you need to contact this office again concerning your request, please provide the DHS reference number. This will enable us to quickly retrieve the information you are seeking and reduce our response time. This office can be reached at 866-431-0486.
Regards,
DHS Privacy Office Disclosure & FOIA Program
STOP 0655
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20528-0655
Telephone: 1-866-431-0486 or 202-343-1743
Fax: 202-343-4011
Visit our
FOIA website (http://www.dhs.gov/foia)
From: US DHS Privacy Office
Good Afternoon, Attached is our final response to your request. If you needto contact DHS PRIV again concerning your request, please provide the DHSPRIV reference number. This will enable DHS to quickly retrieve theinformation you are seeking and reduce their response time. DHS can bereached at 202-343-1743. Regards, DHS Privacy Office
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the integrity of the search as no search was performed. My request was explicitly not limited to the PIA, which is what I was provided a link with.
From: US DHS Privacy Office
From: Meus, Lauren M CIV
Mr. Best:
Please find attached the FOIA Appeal Decision issued by Judge Jordan's office in the above matter. Should you have any questions, please contact Heather MacClintock.
Thank you,
Lauren
From: Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Best:
Please find attached the Final Letter regarding your FOIA Appeal issued by Lauren Staiti.
Thank you,
Lauren Meus
Hearing Docket Clerk
U.S. Coast Guard
From: Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Best:
Please find attached the Final Letter in the above matter.
Thank you,
Lauren Meus
Hearing Docket Clerk
U..> Coast Guard
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